The NWSLMS Heads to Wenatchee for the “Neal Newberry 150”

For Immediate Release: Northwest Super Late Model Series Media Relations

Spokane, WA – For the 13th consecutive season, the Northwest Super Late Model Series

presented by Knottical Marine will visit the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA) for the

“Neal Newberry 150” on August 29th . It will be “First Responders Night” where first

responders are admitted free. It will pay $5,000 to the winner of one of the most popular

events on the season schedule, whose distance has increased from the previous 125 laps.

Previous winners of the event include Shelby Thompson, Owen Riddle (2x), Doni Wanat,

Brittney Zamora (2x), Garrett Evans (2x), Gracin Raz (2x), Evan Goetz, and last year’s

winner Alan Cress. The last two winners of the event will seek to add another “Neal

Newberry 150” win to their resume but will have stiff competition to deal with from

former series winners and teams looking for their first series triumphs.

For only the second time in series history, the NWSLMS will visit Wenatchee only one

time during the 2026 campaign. The other year was when the “Leonard Evans Memorial

150” was lost to Covid 19 in 2020. The series has competed at WVSO a total of 25 times

since the inaugural appearance in 2014, the most of any facility the series has visited. 15

different teams have scored victories with Gracin Raz earning the most wins with three.

(Photo of Gracin Raz, 2022, by Kyler Hope)

Christopher Kalsh (135 points) leads the championship standings entering the

penultimate round of the season for the NWSLMS. Andy Beaman (129) slipped to

second after losing a motor at South Sound Speedway (WA). Brandon Carlson (103)

jumped to third with Dave Garber (96), and Kyle Cottam (94) rounding out the top five.

Darryl Midgley (78), Bryce Bezanson (73), Kasey Kleyn (61), Jason O’Neil (57), and

Ken Bonney (55) completed the top 10. Kalsch and Beaman will continue their battle for

the championship this weekend. Five drivers on the roster for WVSO have victories with the NWSLMS. Alan Cress (3 wins), Evan Goetz (3), Jason Jefferson (3), Johvan Dillon (1), and Ethan Ebert (1) all fit into that category.

Defending race winner Alan Cress will make the trip from Stayton, OR to East

Wenatchee riding a hot streak. Cress won the last round at South Sound Speedway (WA)

and was a Pro Late Model winner earlier in the season at WVSO with the CARS Tour

Northwest Pro Late Model Series. Cress has 19 NWSLMS starts at WVSO and has felt

comfortable each time he visits. But with Trevor Cristaini Racing on board, he feels even

more confident in his chances for victory.

“I felt comfortable at this track since the first time I raced here”, Cress explained. “It's a

very rhythmic track and once you find the line you'll start clicking off some good laps.

We've had good cars here for a few years now, but Trevor Cristiani coming on board last

year gave us the extra that we were missing. Having Trevor doing setup and Mike Barrett

making sure we have everything else we need for the car, it has put things at another level for our team.”

Another driver who has been riding high in his Super Late Model is Dave Garber. Garber

is coming off a win at the Mission Valley Super Oval (MT) and a third in the NWSLMS

“Weatherguard Roofing - Kennedy Classic 200” at South Sound Speedway (WA).

Preceding that was a fifth in the “Montana 200”. Garber has a new partnership with

Garrett Evans Racing in 2026, and the relationship is beginning to bear fruit.

“I have to give my success to Garrett Evans figuring out some things on the car that have

made a big difference”, Garber admitted. “My confidence level is definitely much better

as a result.”

Another driver to keep an eye on is Meridian, ID racer Johvan Dillon. The son of former

NASCAR Northwest Tour Series champion John Dillon has feasted at WVSO in the

NWSLMS. Dillon was the winner of the “Leonard Evans Memorial 150” in 2025 and

returned to finish second in the “Neal Newberry 125” after setting Fast Time. The

younger Dillon, who is only in his second full year of Super Late Model racing, has had a

good feeling for the track, since the first time he turned laps at the ¼-mile oval. Dillon

expects to win each time he visits Wenatchee.

“I think that is just the most comfortable track for me, and I know the feeling I need in

the car to be successful there”, Dillon explained about his success at WVSO. “I would

say I’m basically still in my second season (of Super Late Model racing). I am very

comfortable in both the Super and the Pro. I think each time we show up to the track we

expect to win. Showing up with anything less than that attitude doesn’t get you very far.”

Evan Goetz is a three-time NWSLMS winner and a two-time winner at WVSO. He won

the “Neal Newberry 125” in 2023 and went on to score a $26,000 win in the “Wenatchee

200” in 2024, as an unsanctioned race. He also has two Pro Late Model touring series

wins as well as a Pro Late Model track championship at WVSO. The Okanogan, WA

racer hasn’t been back to Victory Lane at WVSO in his Super Late Model since 2024 but

will be taking an attitude of fun into this weekend’s event.

“I feel we need to have more fun while at the track to get back in the winning spot” Goetz

volunteered as to his thoughts about getting back to Winner’s Circle. “Our biggest

challenge to finishing well at Wenatchee is avoiding all wrecks, keeping the car clean,

and getting to the front!”

Two-time NWSLMS championship runner-up Ken Bonney is set to make his second

appearance of the 2026 season. Bonney is coming off a feature win in the second half of

the twin 50-lap events at Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway (ID) last weekend. Bonney

finished 11th in this event in 2025 but scored a runner-up finish in the sister event at

WVSO, the “Leonard Evans Memorial 150”, earlier that year. Bonney hopes to ride the

success of his first Stateline Speedway Pro Late Model win to another successful outing.

“After winning at Stateline Speedway, our team is ready for the Northwest Super Late

Model Series race”, Bonney stated. “It should be a great challenge with big engines and

only four tires and 150 laps. We need to haul butt and try to conserve at the same time.

Last time we were there, we made a mistake and crashed my car and someone else's. I

still feel really bad about it. Things happen so fast there and all you can do is learn from

your mistakes and not do that again if possible.”

2020 WVSO Pro Late Model track champion Michael Knutson will make his second

career start with the NWSLMS this Saturday. Knutson is a former winner of the “Jerry

Berschauer Memorial 100”, “Spring Sizzle” and is a winner in his B-Mod in 2026.

Knutson and the Garrett Evans Racing team have been thrashing to get their Super Late

Model ready for this weekend after the “Idaho 200” at Mode Stadium Stateline

Speedway. That refresh is almost ready.

“If everything comes together, Garrett Evans, Glenn Knutson and the guys at Evans

Racing Enterprises will have the #51 back together with a fresh Senneker Performance

front clip and a new Ford powerplant under the hood for the Northwest Super Late Model

Series at the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval. I'm excited to see what we've got”, Knutson

exclaimed! Knutson is looking forward to taking on all comers, as he will seek to defend his home turf.

“I don't care about big names or small names”, Knutson began. “I don't care who's

supposed to be fast, who's won what, or who shows up with the biggest reputation. We're

going to race whoever unloads. We've got a da** good team behind this car, led by Evans

Racing Enterprises, and I believe in the people preparing it. Our job isn't to worry about

everybody else's program, it's to make ours better. Our team, our car, our race, a fresh front clip, new Ford power, and a good team behind the #51. Now let's get this thing

together, get to Wenatchee, and go see what we've got. We're coming on the prowl.”

Making his 2026 season debut is Nampa, ID racer Dan Lowther. Lowther will make

series start #10, but only his second at WVSO, where he participated in this event in

2025. The former #63 nationally ranked American Flat Track motorcycle racer will have

the challenge of getting up to speed quickly and getting the right setup on his Super Late

Model.

“The most challenging part is that this would only be my second start there, so figuring

out setup is the biggest thing”, Lowther explained. “But the high speed of such a small

track with lots of grip is what I really enjoy about the track. “My goal is to make the top

eight redraw and run in the top five.”

The event honors the memory of Neal Newberry from Cle Elum, WA. Newberry was

elected to the WVSO Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2013, he passed away after a short illness.

He was one of the best racers in the Northwest in his day, scoring hundreds of wins and

multiple championships at tracks such as Wenatchee, Evergreen, Yakima, Ephrata, and

many more. He scored a touring series championship in the NASCAR Winston West

Northwest Racing Series (precursor to the NASCAR Northwest Tour) in 1974. He was a

champion in the Olympia Challenge Series and the Northwest Super Stock Association.

He also scored wins in the now ARCA Menards Pro Series West. In 2014, two-time

“Neal Newberry 125” winner Garrett Evans saw an opportunity to honor his friend and

mentor, as he recalled.

“Neal was a local racer in Wenatchee that raced a Plymouth. My dad took us to a race in

Ephrata to see him race in a NWSSA Race in 1970, I think. Neal got Rookie-of-the-Year

in his ‘64 Plymouth Sport Fury. They were cool cars. My dad also sponsored him a little

bit. Neal went on to win a championship in the NASCAR Sportsman Series, which now

is what we're racing in. He also won races in the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1976 & 1979 in his Plymouth Volare kit car. Neal had a Richard Petty Dodge Charger and

many more Mopars over the years. He was always a fast clean racer, except when you got him mad, then look out!”

Evans continued, recalling his friendship with Newberry, “He helped me a lot when I first

started in 1977 and 1978. He was somebody I looked up to, and he was a good friend. He

had a huge following of loyal fans who followed him to wherever he was racing. He

passed away several years ago, and I honored his legacy by naming this race after him.”

The Northwest Super Late Models will be joined by the Dick's Heating and Air

Conditioning Thunder Cars, Plumb Perfect Roadrunners, NAPA Auto Parts Bandoleros,

and the B&T Towing Youth Roadrunners. Front Gates open at 4:30 pm (PST), with

qualifying scheduled for 4:40 pm with single car qualifying for the NWSLMS last.

Opening Ceremonies are set for 5:45 pm, followed by Trophy Heats for the local

divisions. Main Events will follow for the Youth Roadrunners (20 Laps), Bandos (20

Laps), Roadrunners (25 Laps), Thunders (35 Laps), and the “Neal Newberry 150” for the

Northwest Super Late Model Series.

The race will air LIVE on Lowbudget.TV with a subscription.

Expected Entry (8/25/2026):

2 Terry Halverson, Wenatchee, WA

3B Andy Beaman, Selah, WA

3K Ken Bonney, Hermiston, OR

9 Ethan Ebert, Tucson, AZ

11 Johvan Dillon, Meridian, ID

17 Bob Presley, Olympia, WA

22 Evan Goetz, Okanogan, WA

29 Jason O’Neil, Spokane, WA

33 Christopher Kalsch, Hillsboro, OR

51 Michael Knutson, Quincy, WA

63 Dan Lowther, Boise, ID

77 Scott Murphy, Spokane, WA

91 Alan Cress, Stayton, OR

93 Dave Garber, Spokane, WA

97 Jason Jefferson, Naches, WA

Remaining Schedule:

August 29 - Neal Newberry 150" - Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval

October 4 - "Fall Classic 200" - Tri-City Raceway RMEC

ABOUT THE NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES

The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late

Model series in the Northwest. The series has many valued partners including Knottical

Marine, RaceCals, Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Penske

Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks

Radio Service, Jefferson Racing, Zero Handicap Golf Cars, Atomic Screen Printing, Port

City Racecars, In Front Motorsports, Peltier Racing, Shockwave Seating, and Short Track

Heroes. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and

Twitter.

Article, PC: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media